Rumours on Bradford's forum that they're interested in taking Jack on loan. Definitely a move I could see happening, given Shepherd and Lopata have been earmarked for going on loan again. Be a good move for him that.
Be a poor move that. Bradford never do a thing and it would feel like a backwards step demotion from Cheltenham. He should be getting loaned out in league one again.
He’s the only left sided cover for Earl. I’d rather loan out McCarthy or Lopata…..or even MDG (not a fan at all).
I would be keeping Shepherd as cover for Earl personally. Lopata and McCarthy would be the ones I would loan out. Or in McCarthy's case, loan or sell.
I'd be fine with this, Shep isn't good enough yet to even be cover for a side that should be wanting to be in the top 6. We should be loaning out to gain more experience this season, he's still in the infancy of his EFL career and I wouldn't really be comfortable with him playing a substantial number of games if Earl gets injured.
Cheltenham fans spoke very highly of him. For us he generally did OK when called upon just a couple of games where he was really off it. A loan may be good for him as it would get him more game time but it would need to be a lower L1 side. I am not sure an average L2 is a great idea, but for us I would far rather have him available than Lopata or McCarthy We arent going to sign a player who is good enough to play regularly in a top 6 side purely as cover so unless we can sign someone who is better than Earl, Shepherd is going to be hard to improve on
Considering where he came from, a loan to league two, assuming he plays week in week out, would be a good option. Reassess in January. There’s something there, but he’s not 19, he’s starting from scratch later than most. He needs to play.
Offers cover being left footed but, as others have said, he needs to be getting games now. Wouldn’t be against this.
You're right. But our second choice in an EFL season with 2 games a week should be a top half league 1 player if we've got aspirations of promotion. I'm not saying they need to be top 6 level because we can't afford that but there's very little to support him being a bottom end league 1 player atm. And I say that as someone who thinks there's a real player in there, besides a year in league 2 hopefully nailing down a spot every week will do more for his development than playing second fiddle. He's at the age he needs games, he's not a kid. Sink or swim in league 2 for me. If he sinks, goodbye but if he swims then next season for sure deserves a go.
He started well for us last year but had a mare against City in the Johnsons Zenith Data Paint Trophy and was not seen for us much after. City obviously saw something. Perhaps.
Played well against Real Mallorca in the friendly last week. Would like us to continue to develop him, and could see some games in our first team if he stays for the season.
I thought he would have been kept as ‘fifth choice’ over McCarthy and Lopata. There’s a player in there and will only get better with experience, as will Lopata. I think McCarthy is the best out the lot but can’t see him getting a look in. Looked slow against Mallorca at times.
And the head coach that took him is now here.. so now's all about him. Don't know why some people think it's easy to loan players out who can't even make our bench.. somebodys got to want em for starters..
He has all the physical attributes to become a decent central defender but he needs to learn his trade the little things that takes him from good to good enough. I love Jack's journey not all about Academy's I really hope he makes it.
Ironically, Shepherd's worst game for us was at Bradford, in that cup game where they scored 5. I think he was at fault for at least 3, and got sent off if I remember right.
